Noise level: Low to moderate, punctuated by pleasant, if not amusing, conversation with the staff, and the steady stream of takeout customers, who outnumbered the dine-in patrons.

My first job out of college was in the town of Rutland, Vermont, which more or less lived up to its name when it came to lunchtime dining choices. The one saving grace was a small family-run sandwich shop, which was consistently reliable, cheap and quick. Sure, one staffer always took a little longer than the others, but I always was able to get back to work on time despite the sporadic delays.

I hadn't thought about this sandwich joint for quite some time until I recently stepped into Lafayette's Eats & Sweets. Situated on South Public Road, this establishment dishes out soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods and ice cream. Like my old New England haunt, the decor here tends towards the no-frills end of the spectrum. But one immediately noticeable difference is how cheerfully engaged the Eats & Sweets staff is with their customers. As my companion and I ordered our dinner-hour sandwiches, the gregarious counterperson suggested we take our meals on baguettes as we would get more for the money.

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To kick off our dinner, we split a $3.99 bowl of the soup of the day, a traditional tomato-based gazpacho. Fresh and cold enough to be refreshing but not overly chilled, this warm-weather favorite wasn't as acidic or peppery as some, and this balanced flavor was a good thing. One unexpected touch was the presence of ripe cubed avocado, which contributed heft and creaminess that's sometimes absent in gazpacho.

A bowl of gazpacho at Eats & Sweets in Lafayette. For more photos of the food go to dailycamera.com (Jeremy Papasso / Staff Photographer)

One element that was overly chilled in another instance was the quinoa, which was the centerpiece of a small $7.99 salad adorned with tomato and baby organic greens. There was a heaping scoopful of this grain, which was fluffy with subtly nutty, but the cold muted its flavor. Otherwise, the tomatoes were ripe, a pleasant surprise this time of year, and the greens were crisp and fresh. Topping it off was a lively lemon vinaigrette which did a fine job of complementing but not overwhelming the mix of flavors.

A small $6.49 Dave's roast beef sandwich was a hot and endearingly messy delight. Although cheddar's not a traditional cheesesteak ingredient, loads of melted cheese made this preparation bear more than a passing resemblance to the famed Philly specialty. Horseradish mayonnaise further upped the flavor ante, and a mix of romaine, tomato and onion served as a cooling counterpoint to this stimulating condiment.

While the baguette wasn't the stuff of high end artisanal bakeries, it was more than satisfactory in no small part due to optimum toasting. The quality of the $8.49 large caprese sandwich was better than expected for the price.

Ingredient quality and balanced tastes made this choice stand out. The mozzarella was moist, creamy and thickly cut. Flavor-packed tomatoes were also juicy, and nicely set off by the sharpness of fresh basil and balsamic, tempered by mellowing olive oil.

A personal rite of spring is finding new spots to enjoy ice cream, and having worked our way through the eats, the dessert menu afforded us an opportunity to sample the sweets. There's a full complement of Boulder-brand ice cream available by the scoop, and the bulk of the baked goods, such as cupcakes and cookies, are crafted in house.

My dining companion opted for a hefty $4.50 slice of gluten-free cheesecake, which swapped out a traditional crust for an innovative and tasty alternative consisting of ground pecans. Ideally splitting the difference between light and leaden when it came to texture, another selling point was the understated tang that I typically associate with well-crafted homemade cheesecake.

Let us now pause to reflect on the sheer $4.75 magnificence that is Eats & Sweets' banana bread ice cream sandwich. Beyond allowing me to indulge my seasonal exploration of frozen desserts, this treat raised the question of why hadn't anyone thought to offer this before? Two thick slices of moist and not-too-sweet banana bread shot through with a subtle aroma of vanilla encased one's choice of ice cream -- in this instance, rum raisin. The mix of textures and flavors was memorable, and perhaps the only thing that could have made this dessert even better would have been a toasting of the bread.

Eats & Sweets is a shining example of a low-key eatery exceeding expectations by making things better than they have to be. Add on friendly service, creative treats and a family-friendly atmosphere, and you have a place that beats any affordable sandwich shop in memory.

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